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There’s Such a Thing as Dead Elephant IPA #17https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/theres-such-a-thing-as-dead-elephant-ipa-17/
https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/12/04/theres-such-a-thing-as-dead-elephant-ipa-17/#respondMon, 04 Dec 2017 21:29:50 +0000http://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/?p=332I am about a week behind on this one but my larger absence is because I guess I have been taking it easy lately. It hasn’t been a totally dry period but there just hasn’t been anything new as I still cycle through what was leftover from the “tastening” – case in point the Rolling Rock I enjoyed last night, which really hit the spot.

The venue for this latest imbibing sessions was Union Social Eatery. Not exactly a Toronto hot spot but close to home and I think the food is underrated. It was a Sunday evening and not that you need an occasion to go out but it was Grey Cup (Yeah Argos!!) and me and another dad were on our own for supper so why not round up the kids and hit the local.

One of the features of Union Social is that they have a rotating craft tap, perfect for someone like me who will try almost anything once. The selection on this day was Dead Elephant IPA which I went for. Truthfully I probably would have said yes to dead spider, or dead zombie or whatever.

Dead Elephant IPA is a product of Railway City Brewing in St. Thomas, Ontario. I can’t recall if I have had any of their brews in the past but like the creativity they have when you check out their offerings. There is some sort of orange creamsicle brew I will have to try if I can find it.

Back to the IPA…I really liked it! I know that is a very simple compliment to give but it is simply a very drinkable beer. It has a light hoppyness to it and it is definitely the kind of beer that you could drink 3 or 4 of on a hot day at the cottage without complaint. Experts would say it is kind of a bit fruity but I didn’t catch too much of that. I guess that is part of what makes it go down so easy though. Not sure what the distribution of Rail City is but I hope to bump into this brewery more in the future.

Pop Culture Note: If you have yet to see The Punisher on Netflix…see it!! I have liked all of the Marvel series’ on the streaming site but this might be my second favourite after Daredevil.

When I am out with my family I never know if we are going to be at a spot where I can add to the beer repertoire but a few weeks back I was in luck. What started as a jaunt into Toronto Greek Town ended up with us at a previously unknown brew pub called Louis Cifer Brewworks…and I am so glad it did.

First of all it was nice to find a brew pub that was as family friendly as this one. No there were not strollers strewn about but the kids menu was sharp, they give out a little toy (slime which my girls loved) and the family felt really welcomed, especially when the owner spent a few minutes at our table. Not a surprise they are up for a local award for being so kid friendly. They even do movie nights on Sunday’s which will definitely bring us back (when the title is appropriate).

Now on to the beer. Before I get into how anything tasted I have to say I was impressed with the range of offerings and best of all they offered flights, which I always love (it makes it more fun) and they actually had a lot of their own brews, not just a couple to throw into the mix. .

My strategy for doing flights is almost always two-fold, first try things I have never tried before and try things that are interesting because you can pretty much drink a few ounces of anything, right?

Here are my thoughts (in the order above):

The IPA was nothing special for me. This is becoming standard fare for most and this one just didn’t have anything to it. I like my IPAs kind of hoppy and this one was pretty tame. I prefer a more bold flavour but I realize that it is not for everyone.

The Wheat Beer was also pretty ordinary. These used to be my go to as there is usually something drinkable in this category on tap in most places and I really like where there is a “thing” like an orange wedge or something similar. Like the IPA above there was nothing wrong with it just nothing special either.

On to the radler, a few years ago I tried my first radler on a business trip and was hooked. I know they may not be what a true beer connoisseur would go to but they go down easy and they are perfect in hot weather. I have tried a number that you can buy at the liquor store but there are not a lot of bars I have been to that have them on tap. This one also stood out for the Ruby Red and the fact that it actually had a decent alcohol content (for future reference). I thoroughly enjoyed it. Sure it was sweet but whats wrong with that. This is definitely the kind of drink you can drink all night (just not with the kids around!)

The final beer in the flight was the blond. Similar to the others it was good but not memorable. I do like Blonds (pun intended) but nothing stood out about this one (married a brunette by the way). Similar to the radler I like the different combination but found that it could have been more dominant. The orange did not come through as much as I would have like.

There you have it. There is so much more on tap to get to so I will definitely be back. They do movies on Sunday nights which I think is great fun. I still don’t know who Louis Cifer is but I am will to invest more time to find out.

]]>https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/09/28/who-is-louis-cifer/feed/0mwiesenfeld20170903_180614Vacation Interruption (#s 11 & 12)https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/vacation-interruption-s-11-12/
https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/vacation-interruption-s-11-12/#respondTue, 29 Aug 2017 19:28:38 +0000http://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/?p=254I know I am just halfway through the beer log for the “great beer tasting birthday bash” but I was on the road this past week so it seemed logical to file a report. Travelling, is awesome for beer drinkers these days. Pretty much no matter where you go you will find new and interesting choices. God bless you Craft Beer!

As a point of reference my travels last week brought me to lovely White Plains, New York to visit family. As many of you know may know beer distribution is not regulated the same way in the US as it is in Ontario so there are lots of places to shop. In my case I picked Trader Joe’s (Obviously!). They actually have a great selection and the food there is delish so we always stop by when we are south of the border.

Tasked with getting some refreshments for a family BBQ I picked up the following:

Brooklyn Summer Ale – This was a nod to some family heritage (my NYC relatives grew up in Brooklyn). This is one of their sessional ales and I would say it was just OK. I always like to try things that are not always around so I am not upset about it but nothing really stands out about it either. Very drinkable but very forgettable at the same time.

That was for the massed but I also picked up a few singles of some brews I found interesting. They were:

Overall this was very likable. It had the hoppiness I like but I think I prefer the outputs of Ontario a little better. It was not on display at TJS but they also have a 90 Minute and a 120 Minute IPA. I can see how it would be a lot of fun to hunker down and really delve into the differences. Overall my first ever Dogfish experience was pretty good. More to come for sure. I love the creativity I am seeing on their website.

There were also a couple of beers that shall remain nameless. Something with blackberries and an alcoholic root beer that I was not smart enough to scribble down before the bottles hit the recycling bin.

]]>https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/29/vacation-interruption-s-11-12/feed/0mwiesenfeldBrooklyn Summer Ale60 Minute IPA bottle and pourImage result for lesson learnedTasting Group #1 (Beers #8, #9, #10)https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/tasting-group-1-beers-8-9-10/
https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/tasting-group-1-beers-8-9-10/#respondFri, 11 Aug 2017 15:56:49 +0000http://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/?p=210Residing in Ontario, I am lucky to have access to a plethora of craft beer options. For the tasting portion of the evening I wanted to focus on some local hoppy pale ales in round one and some lighter wheat beers for round two.

Now I have to admit that before I brought this into the mix I was not in the know about All Day Pale Ales, I am not sure it is truly a thing as this particular brew is also sometimes called a Golden Pale Ale. No matter what you call it it definitely has a big flavour. Starting with it was a great way to kick things off too. I don’t think anyone else in the group had tried it before, which is exactly what I was going for

“Life is too short to drink the same beer over and over”

They call this one a West Coast Pale Ale which is also interesting considering the location of the brewery – I think the Great Lakes are in the middle of the continent NO?. Like the Cruiser above it was big on flavour but not as much as a crowd pleaser . I have to agree with that opinion but I did enjoy it. Everything is relative when it comes to taste. This is pretty easy to find and I think I might have had it once or twice before the party.

Lake of Bays Brewing is hardly a household name, even in Ontario. That is why I have to admit I was a little surprised when I liked this brew the best of this bunch. The plane on the can is nothing to really invite your attention but this highly flavourful beer was an expected treat. Its got the nice citrus notes that a lot of beers in this class have and I have been happy to enjoy the leftovers all season long. It was the first one to go so perhaps I enjoyed it even more than I realized.

When I started this blog years ago I probably would have found the hoppy pale ales listed above as bitter, now they are beautifully rich and flavourful. I know they are not for amateur beer drinkers but for “pros” they are the perfect way to enjoy a summer evening.

Bring on the hops. That is always the way I go now.

Personal PS – Just one episode away from finishing Strike Back Season Five. True to form it is not clear who will survive and who won’t. IMDB says there will be a Season 6 though. I am afraid to review what they have posted for fear of spoiling it.

]]>https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/11/tasting-group-1-beers-8-9-10/feed/0mwiesenfeldHeinie or Neinie? (#6 & #7)https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/heinie-or-neinie-6-7/
https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/heinie-or-neinie-6-7/#respondThu, 10 Aug 2017 00:50:35 +0000http://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/?p=188In planning the birthday beer party I wanted to incorporate a game, in addition to some tastings. Whether it is brilliant or not I came up with Heinie or Neinie?…here is how it goes.

In my estimation Heineken is about as easy to find as any beer in the world, you can find it as easily in Toronto as you can in Tokyo. As such I was wondering if people would be able to pick it from another beer in a sort of blind taste test. Everyone has tried it right?

In choosing another beer to pit against Heineken I chose a brand that is also easily found all across the world, it is also Euro in origin, and it also comes in a green bottle…Grolsch.

So the game was simple, take a shot of each and ask people if they can pick out the “Heinie”. How many people do you think got it right?

Even though this was all a bit of fun, a quick way to get people engaged in the party and get the blood pumping with a couple of shots of beer the results are pretty conclusive. People really can’t tell Heineken from other “standard” beers. That is probably the point and why it is so popular. It doesn’t offend anybody but it is not rocking anyone’s world either.

Tell me what you think and if you have any other fun beer games you recommend.

Personal PS – Does anyone else love the show Strike Back? I am catching up on season 5 (watched) eight of ten episodes already. It is Cinemax so a bit harder to find on this side of the pond. Totally bingeworthy. Love the action and you never know who is going to live or die. You should definitely check it out and having a beer in hand won’t hurt.

]]>https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/10/heinie-or-neinie-6-7/feed/0mwiesenfeldImage result for heinekenImage result for grolschImage result for 50% peopleEmbarrassing Blog Gaphttps://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/embarrassing-blog-gap/
https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/embarrassing-blog-gap/#respondTue, 08 Aug 2017 16:46:10 +0000http://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/?p=171

I suppose that bloggers fall into two distinct categories. Those that are committed from the word go (and never stop) and those that aren’t (or do). When I launched blog this many years ago I was sure I was in the first camp but I guess I was wrong. The cool thing is that I knew I could resurrect this blog at any time, without any penalty (save guilt), and that is what I am doing – RIGHT NOW. It might take some time to build up whatever credibility I had earned before but I am willing to take a shot.

Rest assured I am well prepared to make a some serious hay here over the next little while, not just a post today and then another in 75 days. Last May I turned 40 and hosted a little beer bash for some friends and families. It was essentially a tasting party so I have lots of reports to file from that event.

I know you are probably thinking…when he is going to get to the beer and the good times. I believe I left off with #7…so look for #8 real soon and a lot more to come.

]]>https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2017/08/08/embarrassing-blog-gap/feed/0mwiesenfeldImage result for its backImage result for keep calm and drink beerBringing Back the Bloghttps://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/bringing-back-the-blog/
https://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/2011/07/06/bringing-back-the-blog/#respondWed, 06 Jul 2011 19:55:38 +0000http://millionbeerblog.wordpress.com/?p=142This message may fall on deaf ears because it has been so long since I posted. Still I am happy to announce the re-birth of the Million Beer Blog.

What inspired this renaissance? A combination of time, interest and the consumption of three different beers over the past week. Plus, I will be making a trip before the end of the month so there is some good opportunity to add to the repertoire of reviews.

Hope many will come along for the ride. I am reinvigorated and energized.